Description
The Folklife Specialist (Research and Programs) position is located in Researcher and Collections Services (RCS), of the Special Collections Directorate (SCD) in the American Folklife Center (AFC) at the Library of Congress. Pursuant to Public Law 94-201, the American Folklife Center was created in 1976 by the U.S. Congress to “preserve and present” American folklife through programs of research, documentation, archival preservation, reference service, live performance, exhibition, publication, and training.
The purpose of the position is to support professional services for the Center's public programming activities as part of a team; contribute significantly to the planning and coordination of research-based educational resources and interpretive materials; support the development of AFC archival collections; and represent the Center within and outside the Library on matters of folklife, ethnomusicology, ethnographic research, and oral history.
Requirements
As the Folklife Specialist (Research and Programs), you will:
Support the planning and coordination of a range of public programs under the guidance of the supervisor, Head of Research and Programs, such as performances, lectures, exhibitions, and interpretive programs, including goals and objectives, development of management plans, and the scheduling of public programs.
Contribute to materials across multiple media that draw on expertise in the fields of folklore, ethnomusicology, oral history, and related cultural heritage disciplines. Materials may include written articles, lectures, blog posts, publicity/press releases, and social media communications, as well as the development of content for various digital platforms. Prepare and contribute to policy and division reports as required.
Assist with Center folklife and ethnomusicological research projects in the Library of Congress and in other research libraries and ethnographic archives. Aid with professional services and information resources in various media for that the Center provides to cultural heritage fields, including folklife, ethnomusicology, and oral history.
Contribute to Center field research and documentation projects when applicable, using standard interviewing and documentary techniques and equipment. Help with timelines, product development, staffing, and publicity for American Folklife Center initiatives involving public programming and researcher development or support as required.
Represent the Center within the Library on matters of folklife, ethnomusicology, ethnographic research, and public programming; stay abreast of the latest research and publications in these fields; make and maintain professional contacts (both within and outside the Library); and travel outside the Library to work with collaborators to further Center objectives.
Provide reference services for complex research projects and issues associated with the American Folklife Center's archival collections on folklife, ethnomusicology, and documentary media. Duties include surveying and evaluating the Library's collections relating to these areas; addressing complex reference inquiries; and planning and developing public information resources in various media concerning Center research and programming activities and archival resources.
Aid in providing resources to support AFC educational programming development and works with other units and programs as needed (inside and outside of the Library).
Stay abreast of trends in the archival field. Provide subject expertise and conducts research, as needed to help inform collection acquisition decisions. Assist archives staff to provide curatorial expertise and other support as assigned related to collections processing and access efforts.
Perform other duties as assigned.
